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Feature Articles - The Belgian Air Service

As World War One opened,
The Belgian Air Service, renamed Belgian Military Aviation (BMA) in 1915,
consisted of only four squadrons.

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Once the war began,
civilian pilots swelled the ranks, bringing their own airplanes with them.
The acquisition of adequate amounts of material from France and Great
Britain was a persistent problem, but by war's end the BMA claimed a force
of near 130 fighters and bombers.

According to Belgian Army
officers, the BMA was vital to the Belgian war effort, and it worked closely
with the British and French air services. Its strategy and tactics
were closely based on the French system of organizing squadrons for a
specific task, like air support or fighter patrols.

King Albert found it so
useful he flew a Sopwith over the front in June 1917 to gain a better
understanding of the situation, the only head of state to do so.

Because of its small size,
the BMA specialized in aerial photography, artillery spotting, and ground
support. Still, it was responsible for 77 enemy kills and boasted six
aces, including
Willy Coppens and
Andre de
Meulemeester.